US CO2 Emissions Drop Dramatically

April 2020 Recorded Lowest CO2 Emissions in US

Source:  NYC April 2020 

US Energy Information Administration Data 

COVID-19 lockdowns, travel restrictions and working from home in the US have resulted in significantly reduced CO2 emissions.  Specifically, in April 2020, CO2 emissions in the US hit a record low - the lowest level since the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) started keeping CO2 emission records in 1973.  The dramatic reduction is all about significantly decreased travel by Americans to avoid exposure at work, school, on public transit and planes to the COVID-19 virus.  If there is any positive out of this horrific pandemic, the reduction in CO2 pollution is it.

Gasoline and Jet Fuel Use Plummeted

The ripple effect is clear.  Stay at home advisories and orders cut travel and petroleum use.  It also shifted electricity consumption from commercial and industrial users to residential users, according to the EIA.  The EIA documented that during April 2020, gas consumption was way down. Gas is the most used petroleum fuel in the US.  Jet fuel use was also significantly down.

Zoom In on the Numbers

CO2 emissions in the US fell to 307 million metric tons in April, that is down 25%.  Airline travel was down a whopping 96% from April 2019.  And US road travel was down 40%.  The EIA forecasts that CO2 emissions will start rising again in 2020 but will still be down by 11% when compared to 2019.  

Discovery and Innovation Information Center https://amazon.com/author/ekane

To take a look at my book "List of Top New Environmental Innovations", go to https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07MNJL5J1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_nzTqFb2S668ZG&tag=ejkane2-20

... ...